Mubasher: The number of companies registered with the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) Authority reached 590 firms, representing 50% of the targeted number, CEO and board member of the Doha-based business and financial centre said.

The registered firms are expected to increase to around 1,000 companies by 2022, Yousuf Mohamed Al Jaida added.

He said that direct foreign investment (DFI) in the gas-rich nation increased by 27% during 2016 and 2017.

Qatar acquires 46% of the companies registered with the centre, followed by Europe and North America with 24% and 11%, respectively.

The QFC looks forward to listing more than 10 companies on the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE), Al Jaida noted.